Charge higher import duties on all power equipment imports: Commerce Ministry

29 Feb 2012 Evaluate

Differences have risen between the Power Ministry and the Commerce Ministry over the hike in duties on power equipment imports. The Commerce Department has opposed power ministry's attempt to protect existing ultra mega power projects (UMPPs) from the proposed duty hike on imported power equipment, and said the higher duties should be imposed on all imports from the day the Cabinet approves the proposal.

The power ministry has proposed a 5% basic customs duty on power equipment imports, a 10% countervailing duty and a 4% value added tax in the Cabinet note to shield domestic manufacturers like BHEL, L&T and Bharat Forge against cheap imports from China. The Commerce Department, however wants a 15% basic customs duty on all power equipment imports without any exemptions. The commerce secretary had pointed out that it is the basic customs duty that has to be raised to give protection against imports as against raising the CVD and VAT as that would mean higher local duties for domestic producers as well.

Currently, equipment imported for projects of less than 1,000 MW capacity attract 5% customs duty while those above that enjoy levy exemption. Private power producers, including Reliance and Tata Power on their part, have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that imposition of higher duty on imported equipment would result in increased electricity tariffs and would hurt the sector. The letter noted that imported power gear comes on faster delivery schedules since domestic manufacturers are burdened with a huge order book. BHEL's order book is 3.7 times its turnover while it is 7.1 times for L&T.

Further as per the Association of Power Producers (APP), imports of equipment are supported by export credit agencies, resulting in competitive cost of financing. There was also reliability of equipment since international companies were more experienced in making large-sized super critical units. APP has further noted that there has been a significant depreciation of the rupee against both the US dollar and the Chinese yuan leading to an implicit duty of 15-17% on equipment and machinery imports. 

More than 50 per cent of coal-based power capacities are based on imported equipment in the current five-year Plan (2007-12) and the trend is likely to continue in the next Plan period (2012-17). It may be noted that the domestic power sector is grappling with multiple woes including fuel scarcity, rising coal prices and environmental hurdles.

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